Key Resources for Prospective and Current Physician-Scientist Students
Are you a prospective student interested in becoming an osteopathic physician-scientist?
You may contact the program director of your preferred osteopathic physician-scientist training program (OPSTP) at one of the member colleges of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).
Visit AACOM’s Osteopathic Physician-Scientists Engagement Network and select “Contact Program Director”. In your message, specify the OPSTP for which you would like to receive more information and a program director will follow up with you. Good luck on beginning your exciting and rewarding career as an osteopathic physician-scientist.
Prospective students interested in osteopathic physician-scientist training programs (OPSTPs) must first apply to an osteopathic medical school through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). AACOMAS is the centralized application system used for most U.S. osteopathic medical schools. For osteopathic medical schools located in Texas, applicants should instead use the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
Admissions Requirements
To learn more about the admissions requirements for each OPSTP refer to Osteopathic Physician-Scientist Training Programs by State and select the OPSTP. Some programs require applicants to complete a supplemental or secondary application after completing their primary application via AACOMAS.
The supplemental or secondary application serves as an additional method for admissions committees to gather more information on applicants to better determine if they are a fit for the program. Applicants may be required to submit an essay or respond to specific prompts that highlight their experience, qualities and abilities.
Please refer to each OPSTP’s site to learn more about supplemental or secondary application requirements and fees. Please note that some OPSTPs accept verified AACOMAS fee waivers.
Refer to these additional resources AACOM’s Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Services team has developed to assist prospective students during the application process.
The Graduate Medical Education (GME) Initiatives team of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) has developed resources for students seeking learning opportunities (away rotations), residencies and fellowships. Students may use the following resources as a guide to navigate their transition to residency and identify opportunities.
Residency Application Data Guide
There are several data sources (FREIDA, VSLO, etc.) dedicated to assisting students in their transition to residency. AACOM’s GME Initiatives team has created this guide to help students navigate these sources by providing an overview and pros and cons of each resource.
Residency Readiness Bootcamp Framework
This framework serves as a guide to supplement existing efforts to ensure osteopathic medical students are properly prepared for residency by outlining specific skills transferable across specialties to be assessed during a residency-readiness bootcamp during the fourth year of osteopathic medical school.
Specialty Specific Advising Resources
The AACOM UME-GME Task Force developed these resources to give both AACOM’s member COMs and students a general overview of specialty information and key data on the transition to residency.
- Toolkit to Support Students Reentering the Residency Application & Match Process
This toolkit was designed for students who previously unmatched and are looking to reenter the residency application and match process.
- Post-Doctoral/GME Informative Toolkit
If you are a fourth-year osteopathic medical student exploring residency or fellowship opportunities, this toolkit will help you to determine which program is the right fit.
- Upcoming Live Webinars & On-Demand Webinars
AACOM’s GME Initiatives team has collaborated with AACOM’s member COMs and partner organizations to develop a series of webinars that aim to help students in various areas of GME, from navigating the transition to residency to securing grants and aid and learning tips for personal finance and debt management.
Interested in more resources? Please visit the following pages:
Please refer to the following websites to learn more about the grants and aid available to researchers and/or their institutions leading studies to discover the next groundbreaking treatments and cures.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grants
- Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
- Doris Duke Foundation Medical Research Funding
- Health Resources & Services Administration Loan Repayment Program
- Health Resources & Services Administration Scholarships
- National Institutes of Health Grants & Funding
- National Institutes of Health Division of Loan Repayment
Students require guidance and mentorship throughout the UME-GME continuum. Whether you are a prospective student with questions about an osteopathic physician-scientist training program (OPSTP) or a current student enrolled in an OPSTP, you may contact AACOM’s Osteopathic Physician-Scientists Engagement Network to:
- Seek guidance on how to navigate the admissions process for an OPSTP (prospective students).
- Find a mentor (current students enrolled in an OPSTP).
- Become a mentor (third- and fourth-year students enrolled in an OPSTP).
- Network with colleagues and build relationships.
- Develop leadership skills for career advancement and professional development.